In re Application of James McBride

Decided: March 12, 1951.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF JAMES MCBRIDE FOR ISSUANCE OF WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

On writ of habeas corpus.

Hughes, J.c.c.

Hughes

[12 NJSuper Page 404] On the basis of a petition alleging his wrongful detention in the New Jersey State Prison, there was issued to petitioner, James McBride, the writ of habeas corpus to inquire into such question, pursuant to the authority of R.S. 2:82-1, et seq. By its return to the writ, the State justifies the imprisonment by virtue of an order of commitment of the former Court of Quarter Sessions of Camden County, evidencing that in such court, on April 4, 1945, there was imposed upon the petitioner a sentence of imprisonment for the duration of his natural life. This petitioner insists that he was neither accused nor tried as an

habitual offender, but on the contrary was tried and found guilty only of the crime of robbery, for which the maximum term of imprisonment is 15 years. R.S. 2:166-1. However, it is evident from his petition, which includes a copy of the indictment charging him sufficiently as an habitual offender, and from the untraversed return to the writ, that he was indicted, convicted and sentenced not only for robbery, but as an habitual offender under the authority of R.S. 2:103-10, a part of the Habitual Criminal Act, as amended L. 1940, c. 219.*fn1

Petitioner contends that this act is unconstitutional in that it does not provide within its terms for notice and hearing on the issue of identity and the conviction of previous offenses of the grade of high misdemeanors, upon which elements its application depends. Application of this statute is impossible, since it warrants the imposition of a heavier penalty than ordinarily prescribed for the basic crime which culminates the repetitive criminal conduct, unless there be a specification of the elements of aggravation which, under the statute, enlarge the grade of the crime by enhancing the punishment. It has been so held by our courts. State v. Lutz , 135 N.J.L. 603 (Sup. Ct. 1947).

And, as it is required that such elements of aggravation be specified in the indictment, so it is incumbent on the State, for that statute to be applied, to offer proof of such previous offenses. The general rule is well settled that proof

of every act necessary to make the law apply is essential; that the court may not take judicial notice of the record of prior convictions; that the burden of proving the prior convictions, and the identity of the defendant as being the same person previously convicted, rests with the State and must be established beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Lutz, supra; Singer v. United States , 278 Fed. 415 (C.C.A. 3, 1921); State v. Janiec , 9 N.J. Super. 29 (App. Div. 1950); State v. Burns , 136 N.J.L. 601 (E. & A. 1947).

There is no necessity, as this petitioner contends, that there be, or that the Habitual Criminal Act provide, a formula for an independent proceeding under R.S. 2:103-10, N.J.S.A. , to adjudicate the accused to be an habitual criminal; it is sufficient if the previous convictions, upon which the increased sentence will rest, are alleged in the indictment and established at the trial. State v. Lutz, supra; State v. Cubbler , 4 N.J. Super. 297 (App. Div. 1949).

Nor is it essential that a separate and special verdict be found by the jury on the issue of habitual criminality, as contended by this petitioner, for a general verdict of guilty seals this issue. State v. Huggins , 84 N.J.L. 254 (E. & A. 1913).

Nor may this court, on habeas corpus , inquire into the sufficiency of proof of such prior convictions at trial. Although this petitioner would question the court's jurisdictional capacity to impose the sentence complained of because of the asserted absence of such proof at trial, it is really the validity of the conviction leading to such sentence which he attacks. In view of the statute quoted, there was, of course, the requisite jurisdictional power in the former Court of Quarter Sessions to convict him of the offense charged in the indictment, and based upon that conviction there was clear jurisdictional authority to impose the life sentence here questioned.

The scrutiny of the trial proofs suggested by petitioner is not available on habeas corpus. Our statute, R.S. 2:82-13, withholds the right to the writ of habeas corpus from those ...

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